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Meet Jill Twehous of Jill Scott in Highlands/Berkeley

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Jill Twehous.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I’m a 20+ year veteran stylist/makeup artist from the southwestern side of Colorado Springs.

Coming from a tumultuous upbringing with very little support growing up, I had few to move to guide me or depend on.

Dropping out of high school at 15, making a myriad of bad choices stereotypically, then living in my car for a little while and finally finding my footing with my savior and best friend Jowea.

She taught me how to live and maybe not in the agreeable norms of society.
In 1996, it was pretty rare to see a young lady with a full back piece tattoo and that regularly lifted weights.
I was, and still am, proud to be a trailblazer in women owning their own bodies to sculpt and decorate as they see fit to empower them.

Jowea and I lovingly parted ways at a fork in the road.

She went on to LA to be her badass self and very likely built up more powerful women along the way with love.
I moved to Denver for a crappy boyfriend who still lived with his parents and was the front man in a thrash metal band.

The poor choices continued.
I finally decided to go to cosmetology school with the idea it was truly the only profession where I’d be celebrated for painting my nails black and would never again suffer a dress code.

I found my tribe.
Ed Gillespie took me under his fierce wing and it was amazing.

He was the first to realize, after several bouts of gagging at the shampoo bowls, that I was more than likely pregnant.

Ivy was born in February 1998 when I was 22.
I married her father when I was six months pregnant.
We were divorced by the time she was two.

In the interim, I found work at a high-end salon that placed me in the position of ” chemist.” I was colorist to the late great Steve Trujillo.

He was of another world. Magic.
I never appreciated fully the opportunity he gifted me.

Now that he’s gone, hanging out with Price and Bowie I have no doubt, that’s a huge regret I have of what an entitled turd I was in my 20’s.

This spurred my career into traveling for education and as an educator.

I also took a position at Mac cosmetics in Cherry Creek when it was all wrought iron and badasses.
Those were amazing times in makeup.

Since then, I’ve had the honor and privilege to be part of countless fashion shows, photo shoots, weddings and all kinds of other frightful, delightful and creative debauchery.

Sadly, in the midst of blazing this trail, the few folks I had in the world were called to take their leave.

My grandfather and always my best friend as a weird motherless child, floated away first, the evening before his 50th wedding anniversary.

My sweet auntie who was always mine and my sister’s cheerleader, the artist, the poet, the only one to ever purchase is deodorant or laundry detergent… she passed at a very young age after a long and ferocious fight with cancer.

A few months later, my wonderful Grandma followed it Christmas morning.

In the midst of all of these life tragedies and triumph, I had met and married the love of my life.
Scott.
He is such a huge part of everything I do, even my business name bears it.

We have a daughter together as well.

She’s 11 going on a solid eye rolling 12, all things normal there. I took a break in my hair career to help him with his dream of running a skate/snow shop.

Those are adventures and debauchery that really need to be in a full-length book. I lovingly team across my stash of bail bondsman cards from back in those days during our last move.

After my dear aunt passed, my sister suggested we honor her in something we never had the opportunity in childhood.
Dance.
I promptly joined a belly dance troupe.
It was pretty lovely but never ever did I feel accomplished.
My instructor recommended I try aerial.
I was so intrigued.

The years I spent as a child hoisting myself on to counters searching for food of any kind, climbing trees, pushing my shit cars that wouldn’t start, had all developed my upper body and core into solid steel. Couple this with a dysfunctional complete lack of fear due to childhood trauma, I’m also double jointed, and WOW, I was good at this.
This circus business and the tribe within was my heaven.

I progress quickly. Met and trained with spectacular athletes and performers. My teaching certification came along and I started teaching classes at the infamous and magical Apex movent Denver.
I sustained a pretty common injury to the labrum in my hip.

This wasn’t at first concerning until x-ray revealed I had substantial hip dysplasia/deformation.
There is no engagement from my femoral head *which by the way are pointy, not round* into my very shallow to the non-existent acetabulum.

I saw several surgeons, was offered one particular terrifying surgical option where they basically saw your pelvis in half and try to put it back together like an adolescent who broke their dad’s favorite mug and tried to glue it back together.
No thanks.
These are just my personal takes on this situation.
Find a Dr you like for your troubles and listen to them.
I saw many.
My condition became worse and worse each passing day.
Whether I was in the salon or in the air, I was in immense pain.
One Dr. told me I’d be in a wheelchair by the time I was in my 40’s.

I was actually at DIA performing on silks while the mayor cut the ribbon for the new Weston.
With the tireless work and support of my superhero PT and dear friend Nicole Fox at Synapse physical therapy, she gave me more time.
She’s been my warrior guide helping me fight off time darkness that keeps coming back trying to tear my wings off.
I’m finally in a place where I’ve found a little balance.
I’m no longer training 30+ hours aerial, or teaching.
That was really painful to release.
I have a wonderful position at a salon called Velvet Ri-fle.
I’m blessed with a large clientele that primarily focuses on creative color techniques.
This feeds my soul and my amazing clients too.
My business card reads ” Professional Unicorn Groomer.”
This is accurate.
I’m only the hands of the magic they bring me.
I’m humbled and honored every day by the kindness, beauty, inspiration, and grace these kind folks bless me with.
I’ll be trying some new injections in the near future to treat my hips.
I’m still in constant pain, but I cope.
Some days are worse than others but it doesn’t remind me to be grateful for all of the good things.
Many people suffer much more every day.
It’s my job to give back, care, or help in any way I can.
Maybe I’ll get back in the air soon… maybe I won’t.
Hip replacements are in the future. That will close the door on that chapter forever.
Not yet though.

Either way, I know how lucky I am to be on this ride.

What do you do? What do you specialize in?
I am a stylist, a makeup artist who specializes in creative hair coloring technique.
I’m proud of my rainbow Unicorn clientele.
I will always see everyone as the individual they are.

Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
Ed Gillespie taught me to never apologize for being me and to throw down beautiful work everywhere.
Vinny Fiacco. For giving me a chance to find my aerial tribe and believing in me when nobody else did.
My PT Nicole Fox, keeps my upright to be able to give more.

Contact Info:

Image Credit:
Nina Reed Photo

Getting in touch: VoyageDenver is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.

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